in Venice. You have your husband's letters to justify you;
and you have also the significant fact that Lady Montbarry's
maid did really leave the house. We will say, then, that Lord
Montbarry has presumably been made the victim of a foul wrong--
that Mr. Ferrari was the first to find it out--and that the guilty
persons had reason to fear, not only that he would acquaint Lord
Montbarry with his discovery, but that he would be a principal witness
against them if the scandal was made public in a court of law.
Now mark! Admitting all this, I draw a totally different
conclusion from the conclusion at which you have arrived.
Here is your husband left in this miserable household of three,
under very awkward circumstances for him. What does he do?
But for the bank-note and the written message sent to you with it,
I should say that he had wisely withdrawn himself from association
with a disgraceful discovery and exposure, by taking secretly to flight.
The money modifies this view--unfavourably so far as Mr. Ferrari
is concerned. I still believe he is keeping out of the way. But I
now say he is paid for keeping out of the way--and that bank-note there
on the table is the price of his absence, sent by the guilty persons to
his wife.'

Mrs. Ferrari's watery grey eyes brightened suddenly; Mrs. Ferrari's
dull drab-coloured complexion became enlivened by a glow of brilliant red.

'It's false!' she cried. 'It's a burning shame to speak of my
husband in that way!'

'I told you I should offend you!' said Mr. Troy.

Agnes interposed once more--in the interests of peace. She took